This is the story of Royce and Flutie:

In 2006, a lovely woman (and now a good friend) moved next door to us. We realized she had two cats since one night arriving back from a long trip from Honduras, the elevator doors opened to two real pretty cats in the common hallway. Being an animal lover, I was so excited to see these beautiful cats almost everyday. However, my partenr (Jamie) who was NOT a cat lover or even cat-liker would roll his eyes each time near our door or the hallways. But that changed soon , as he began to watch "Them Cats" (a name I use to call them, either collectively, or singly, and still do)  and he would call me to let me know: "Hey Them Cats are in the hallway". Soon we heard about their history.

Both of “Them Cats” had been rescued in Cambridge: Royce (the one with Yellow eyes and more of a square head) was found about three 3 years old under a bridge, cold and hungry (but a survivor) and Flutie (the one with the asymmetrical mark on his nose) was found a day old in a dumpster, the only survivor of a litter of 10, when someone…(I truly can’t even think of such a person as human) had tried to kill the entire litter by trashing them! But, Flutie proved his mettle, when he refused to succumb to the intense, deadly heat of that dumpster  in July (who would believe that creatures that actually look alike Humans could such a thing to an innocent tiny little animal)!

As we became more and more friendly with the lovely Neighbor (Amy), she actually let me bring them in sometimes; to my surprise Jamie did not mind ...I think he was falling for them slowly and surely, like I did. So yes, long story short, Amy mentioned to us that Royce did not get along with one her cat . So it got really bad and the two cats would get into BAD fights and off course they made Amy’s life truly miserable. Since going back into the shelter was NOT a choice off course at this point Amy wanted to find "Them Cats" a GOOD home.

 Now you need to understand "Them Cats" are really special; no, I mean REALLY special and the only way to describe them is that they have got REAL SOULS! (They are inseparable and must be together).http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9jgTG0CHuw

 One night Jamie and I were just so excited about finding a new place to live (since we were moving) and that very night in the car, Jamie said: "I think we should adopt "Them Cats”! I was shocked; here is a man who never ever even slightly liked Cats and now this! And I frankly never wanted a living animals becasue of the amount of work and travel ..and attachements BUT  indeed I accepted!

So they moved in and, little by little, got used to having us as their Mommy and Daddy. And we spoiled them to the MAX! We spent a lot time with them and made sure Flutie who was so shy, became a very brave cat .We finally moved and as you see in some of the images, they were all over in every single box...

Indeed they moved with us to our new place and the move was pleasant and they seemed to like it, because they loved their new Mommy and Daddy!

But sadly, after 3 to 4 months of being with us, Mommy got really sick, and it got really bad. I was having really crazy sick days. One day I was fine and the next day I was tired. It stopped me from working and literally being myself. I underwent all kinds of tests: thyroid, anemia, and every kind of blood test...you freaking name it. I lost about 20 pounds in 2 months . I became depressed and at last I finally decided to go an allergy specialist and YES ( I kinda’ knew, but afraid to face it) they told me I am allergic to my cats (my babies). The day I found out about it I cried and I walked from Beth Israel Hospital all the way to downtown Boston , it was cold rainy day..( many miles). I was so so so sad and cried for days because we are so in love the Boys (I mean the cats). I called Amy (their first mommy) and talked to her about it (a shelter was never a choice), Jamie and I were SO sad since either I had to go on a diet of Claritin or find a GOOD home for them. That very day, Jamie said, “why don't you take a walk so you can clear your head”...and I did!

Before this, in July, when we first moved, I had met a lovely woman, Lee. She has the most fantastic bookstore in the whole ENTIRE world . I walked in and I was sad and crying . . Upon her questioning, I mentioned the reason for my tears. To my surprise she said: I’ll take your cat (she had one for 17 years), I said; "but they are Two" and she said: Well then I'll take both of them"!!!!

It was perhaps, the happiest moment of my life! I mean it! God loves “Them Cats” and loves us!

I found them a good home, perhaps even better than mine. A cute independent bookstore http://simonswinthropbooks.net/, with all the newest bestsellers and a ton of used, fascinating books, Royce and Flutie can roam around and jump on anything they want and only 2 minutes (by foot) from my house. The process of transferring them†to this place took about 2 weeks of acclimatizing them. They are finally getting use to their new environment. (about a month now)

I decided that December is the month of Banafsheh taking care of herself! I'm okay now and I have fully recovered and I have almost become the Banafsheh that I knew (LOL). I really had an awakening with my life in the past two months and really decided to change certain things about it.

†

Health is a gift, don't take it for granted, everything else shall follow trust me ,By translating your vision of peace into art , speech and action you can aid , inspire , motivate and engage those around you. Donate your toys and clothes , volunteer at your soup kitchen or food bank ,spend some time with elderly , give holidays gifts focused on peace and community and not commodity , send a card: ( NO, it 's never late to send a card) :

A Recovering American soldier

C/O Walter Reed Army medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C 20307 -5001

Recycle , Re-use envelopes, ribbons, wrapping paper for art or future projects and gifts, call an animal shelter and adopt a pet.....and .. well I can go on and on

Anway ,This is my little 2007 story!

Love and Happy New Year

Banafsheh

Check out my little teeth in the bottom picture! We are happy in the bookstore! Come and check us out!lol